Russell preparing for deadline

Cam Russell would like to improve his team during the mid-season trade period, but not at all costs.

The Halifax Mooseheads general manager knows even a first-place team like his can get better but doesn’t necessarily feel any pressure to make any moves during the Dec. 22-Jan. 8 trade window.

“We obviously want to win; every team does,” Russell said. “We know we’ve got a really good hockey team. We’ve lost three games in regulation all year so we can’t lose sight of the fact we’ve already got an excellent team here right now. But if the opportunity comes up where we can improve it, we’ll improve it. But we’re cautious of the price of what we’ll have to pay.”

The Mooseheads go into tonight’s home game against the P.E.I. Rocket with a 25-3-1-1 record and are the No. 1 ranked team in the CHL. On paper, the Mooseheads don’t appear to need anything. But Russell also knows other top teams will load up during the trade period so he has to be prepared to keep pace.

“There are no guarantees,” Russell said. “You could bring in the best player in the world and he could get injured. You’ve got to be very careful with what you do. We’re active and we have been active for a while. We’ll continue to do so until the final day of the trade deadline. But it has to make sense for the team right now and it has to make sense for the team down the road.”

Russell didn’t discuss specific positions he’d like to upgrade or any of the players he’s targeted. But given that the Mooseheads have solid players from top to bottom already, it doesn’t seem likely he’d be in the market for depth players. If anything, it’s logical to expect he would be inquiring about front-line talent at this point.

“Right now we’re happy with our depth and we’re happy with all our players,” Russell said. “But lots can happen. You could have a plan going in but it’s not necessarily what happens. I just find that during the trade period things change daily and you have to adapt your plan accordingly.”

About the only move that seems almost certain involves third-string goalie Anthony Terenzio. He hasn’t dressed for a game yet this season, even though he was the team’s starter as recently as last fall. The 19-year-old suffered numerous health problems last season but worked himself back into shape over the summer, only to lose out to Chris Clarke in the competition to be Zachary Fucale’s backup.

“Chris has come in and played extremely well,” Russell said. “Anthony is healthy and ready to play. We’ll do our best to accommodate him, to find him a spot to play and if it’s not in Halifax then we’ll do our best to find him a spot to play elsewhere.”

Zachary Fucale will play tonight but will then return to his home in Rosemere, Que., on Friday morning because of a death in his family. Terenzio and Clarke will dress for Halifax's games on Friday and Saturday.

The Mooseheads have also added 20-year-old forward Brad Cuzner for the next four games. He played for the team last year but there was no room for him in the overage rotation this season. He is now with the St. Francis Xavier X-Men but they are on break until after Christmas.

Halifax has room for Cuzner at the moment because 20-year-old defenceman Konrad Abeltshauser has a broken bone in his wrist and won't return to the lineup for at least two more weeks.